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With only 51 per cent of young mothers deciding to breastfeed, the Department of Health has underlined the benefits of the practise for both mothers and their infants as part of National Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

The government body advises that babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of their lives, and that this diet should be subsequently supplemented with solid foods.

This is because all of the nutrients required by babies in their first six months can be obtained from breastmilk, which also helps to protect against infection.